Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-09
arabic OF TIE TAEES.
aITiCAL NOTES on REV. GEOEGE
p. HAYS, o. D., IL. Q.

=. HAYS, D. D., IL 10
essou ~ OF tho international series, for
Suudu$, prc. 11-Tcxt of Lesson, Matt.
xiii. "l.ao - Golden Text. STATS. Kill.
30.
This parable helps to correct two very
idcSpread mistakes First, 1t Is common
opposition that hypocritical church mem
hrs arr due to the unfnithfuncss of the
rcachcr or the evilncSs of the preaching
This as ln,S that the tarcs arc duo to tho
SOWING or tho bad seed. This parable is
Tcctly in the face of such n doctrine The
wcr here in the divine explanation found
verse 81, is the Saviour himself and tho
ii is Iii. own people. The ministry Of the
Avionr was tho model of faithfulnGss, abil-
AMI true doctrine; and yet his ministry
as moi specially successful if its success is
he measured by the number of converts
bd the absence of hypocrisy. The tIrcs are
BIT tho lcrversties and failures of backslid-
IS and truo Christians, They are started
hd maintained alike by an enemy.
Anothrr mistake is TO insist that the church
ust By absolutely pure How often we
ear the lamcHtation, at il such a pity tho
hurch is not faultlcss." Often accusations
Re brought against ministers and church Of
GERS that thoy do not, by church discipline,
lst on, of tho church those whose purity Is
5ubtful This was the suggestion the scrv-
hts m1dc in verse 2S but The Saviour in the
E,rablc takes quite different view He
lNN, "liavo patience. Let both grow to-
rth y r''il tho harvest Tho effects which
ST., ,. rs q good reason fer delay (vCrSc
arm e 81 5,cn in very haty attempts at
ul' Il Gi iflinc. As in agriculture, to pull
% tAo tl',.s win root up the wheat also, so
b CT 4. q, cECcutc Tx severity Of church
snsur, IN all Offenders, however trivial tic
fcu~, i.3Tcv,r uncertain the proof, ard
owclt- u..-h@Lle the 2""'ror, is sure - ~
lrc ;hr growth CT true Christians.
II viii aoticod that The Saviour do~il.0;
|cro t3.,;. "a argument as to what shall be-
oinH "a tai tarcS, but makes the argument
lrn CT what will lie thu effect upon tho
wheat. one Christian and his development
h Christina grace is n0p valued than any
huial,cY % Outsiders. Gods children arc like
be she" and the shepherd, and 1T makes TO
Tod, - . The shepherd, little difference what
nay happen to the wild beasts so the sheep
ne safc The evil is tho devils work, ard
biso who do evil are his children and not
tods children.
IN verse y, as often clewhere by Christ,
We arr taught the existence of an actual, per-
3bOnal devil We may not know how he
works or how he CONES To oar minds. but il
$ Scriptural doctrine that he exists md l.
'aTubloOi tempting and influencing u'to evil.
What and tares are distinct in THEN
origin Us. "a, 2jI, life, growth ". ~, fruit
md destiny ". so. The converted and the
lncnnvctr1 differ in like manner. The first
ire the work of the Holy Ghost; the Others
IrinG from n corrupt Sourcc. The first dc
rived thl'ir life from Christ. to whom they
hre untl4i; they grow up into his likeness
hey hav'- their fruit unto holiness, as is nnen-
ion~l in tial. Y, ~. Their destiny is The
torlpninil'hip of their exalted Head. The
ifo cf Che other is of the earth earthly, and
(hc.r growth is in the direction of t-eliishnes,
md for, ;tune,ss of God The fruit thereof
hop>l"4ncss and Indifference; and the
Aetiny is Indicated in this parable
iho destiny of those represented by The
tir8 is always similarly represented. Ii
bis worli they are often greatly proSpcred
nd nurh pcrplexity arises out of this pros
Gritty o. tho wicked. This pHrplexity is nc
CIV th',.. neither is the explanation novel
=
it,cl g., ,sa.lo God, authoritative jud!s
90, Nv, 10 are constantly assuming that
r. r,"th.N Of divine administration which
inmrH itself to them as right must there
IL 20 .l.iowcl by the Almig hty. Tayr'
pa ~ ,rry beautiful, but that dos not
lvo tho-n. I4!istlc-i in bloom arc exceedingly
.u.iful. mt they arr to he destroyed. A
le end oj thr world there will still hc in TN,
-r--r,, I . -bn l,lint- ~ md
n and i.ilrity ". Al.
l}losp'in ~, AS pain is the Legitimate out
,.ac Of >i.y, 20 happiness is the moral ont
lnc Of virtue. Good works are cS natura
growth Out Of renewed heart Gs the cata
quo Of cyl deeds in Gal. Y, 1921, are tbs
forks OF Che flesh. Good fruit does not max
good tr,", but it proves that the tree Is al
Fady good. The Thermometer docs not maxi
room warm, but it shows its warmth. s.
virtuou, life does not make the heart good
ut it is the true proof of the renewal of tn
cart When, therefore, Christ in interpret
hg this parable speaks of tho righteou
shining forth as the sun" in the kingdom o
lcir Father, he is simply indicating the Ger
hinty thal n holy life win abundantlY mani
81 itself Tho shining of the saints in tn
irG loin 81 God is perhaps to q limited cS
,nt like Tie light Of the moon, Il rcilectc
ght; set as thoy partake of the light an
ldwellins Of the sun of Righteousness, tn
cht Of that sun shines gloriously in then
is not truc, therefore, that the saints sha
ave nothing of enjoyment and excellence i
themselves, for they shall have within ther
be life and power and spirit and holiness, i
III merallrr, which was impaired to them b
be- Spirii Of God in their conversion an
Modification and glorification.
IHINTS FOR PRIMARY CLASSES.
BY ALICE W. KNOX.